John Banister

The myth of Purcell, the 'Orpheus Britannicus', the most important musician born in England before Britten in the 20th century, is strengthened also by its likening to the biography of Mozart: they died a century apart at less than 36 years of age and produced in such a short time a staggering number of compositions: 626 works for the Austrian, 871 for the Englishman.

The pieces chosen for this CD illustrate precisely an intimate repertory, with no division between sacred and profane, in the same ideal arrangement together with instrumental pieces of Purcell’s contemporaries, precisely the way in which it might happen in London in a private performance of the time. These composers are John Banister (pioneer of music for the violin at the court of Charles II, died in 1679), Gottfried or Godfrey Finger (Moravian violinist and composer who lived until 1730) and Antony Poole (almost unknown Jesuit and musician formed in Spanish Flanders and who lived until 1692), the last two active at the court of James II (1685-88) and thus colleagues of the 25-year-old Henry. Purcell himself is well represented with some of his instrumental compositions including the famous set of variations 'Two in one upon a ground', a chaconne taken from the third act of 'The Prophetess', or 'The History of Dioclesian' (1690), which in this recording uses an unpublished lute part taken from a manuscript now in Poznan in Poland.

”Division-Musick“ is a term used by Christopher Simpson during the 17th century to describe a typically English improvisatory style of diminution. Musicians generally used short bass melodies called grounds as the basis for intricate and virtuoso diminutions, beginning with simple and slow melodies over a bass melody, and ending with very fast and virtuosic diminutions after a varying number of repetitions of the melody.

Both singers and instrumentalists practiced this art of diminution, but the preferred instrument for divisions was the so-called ”division viol“.

This CD aims to give some audible insight into English virtuosity in the Baroque era.

English Lute Songs covers a variety of styles by composers such as Blow, Dowland, Campion, Lawes and Purcell; some for voice and lute and some for lute alone. It is a disc which aims to look beyond the standard repertoire for countertenor and lute and hopefully introduce listeners to some lesser known pieces which will delight and enthrall.

Robin Blaze and Liz Kenny have performed these works together on the concert platform to great acclaim.

A Choice Collection / Held by the Ears” is an energetic, foot-tapping collection of diverse music made popular in Purcell’s London. Featuring ““the fastest recorder playing you've ever heard” (BBC Music Magazine) and the winner of another Diapason d’Or award.

The Palladian Ensemble (originally Rachel Podger, Pamela Thorby, Joanna Levine and William Carter) was a double-award winning group even before they released their first album, and made their Wigmore Hall debut in 1993. Gamba player Susanne Heinrich and the prize-winning violinist Rodolfo Richter replaced Joanna Levine and Rachel Podger, but the Palladian Ensemble continued to tour extensively throughout the UK enjoying consistent popularity with audiences and critics.

The Palladian Ensemble were five times winners of the prestigious Diapason d'Or Award, (1993, 1994, 1998, 1999 and 2000) and twice had albums named Gramophone "Editor's Choice".